Another for Mullins as Benie impresses

Benie Des Dieux impressed on her Irish debut, as she made all to win the Limerick Racecourse Vets Mares Beginners Chase.

The five-year-old daughter of Great Pretender was providing Willie Mullins, Paul Townend and the Ricci's with an opening race double, after they claimed the first with Pylonthepressure

A three time winner in her native France, she was sent off the 4/6 favourite today, her first outing since November of 2015.

Sent straight to the front by Townend, she jumped well throughout, and was in a clear lead from the fourth last.

She kept up the gallop in the straight, and never came off the bridle, going on to score easily by thirty lengths. Leaders Questions finished second at 14/1 (from 20's) under Phillip Enright for Robert Tyner, while Monbeg Rose was another four and a half lengths back in third under Jack Kennedy for Gordon Elliott at 6/1. Keppols Queen was sent off the 2/1 second favourite, but she no sort of race, and pulled up before the second last.

The winning rider said afterwards: "It was a fair performance. The plan wasn't to make the running but she was jumping so well I had to leave her on.

"She had been showing plenty and I was never out of second gear and she jumped like a stag. I don't know what'll come out of the race but I know Keppols Queen is a good yard stick but she didn't turn up.

"I never came out of second gear and it was a school for me - I can't tell you a whole lot more apart from that!"

A fantastic performance of front-running jumping - we're not surprised to see Benie Des Dieux trending after this at @LimerickRaces: pic.twitter.com/a4kmalcAR4

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) December 29, 2016

STEWARDS REPORTS

The Turf Club Veterinary Officer examined Keppols Queen, trained by Mrs John Harrington, at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to have sustained a severe cut to the left fore.

Rachael Blackmore, rider of Miss Honeypennie trained by Mrs Prunella Dobbs, reported to the Clerk of Scales that her mount never travelled and was puled up thereafter.

C.D. Maxwell, rider of Court Adjourned trained by Dermot Anthony McLoughlin, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that his mount made a respiratory noise before the fourth last.

M.J. Bolger, rider of Keppols Queen, trained by Mrs John Harrington, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that his mount never travelled.

Robert Tyner, trainer of Scoop It reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that his charge was found to have burst a blood vessel post race

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes